Communications Assistant

Position details

• Vacancy number: 2601822
• Opportunity type: Non-staff opportunities
• Grade / contract type: PSA (Personal Services Agreement)
• Organizational unit: FNOMA - FAO Representation in Oman
• Duration: Up to 11 months
• Application deadline: 08/Sep/2026, 11%5C:59%5C:00 PM

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

Organizational Setting

The FAO Representation in Oman works closely with the Government of Oman and other national and development partners to support the country’s priorities in food and agriculture, sustainable natural resource management, climate resilience, and related areas, in line with FAO’s mandate and the Country Programming Framework. FAO Oman implements and supports a range of programmes and initiatives in collaboration with national counterparts and other stakeholders, with the aim of contributing to sustainable agricultural development, food security, and resilient food systems.

Within this context, the Communication Assistant will support FAO Oman in effectively communicating its programmes, activities, results, partnerships, and key messages to relevant stakeholders and the wider public. The position will contribute to strengthening the visibility and outreach of FAO’s work in Oman and ensuring that communication materials and activities are aligned with FAO’s corporate communication standards and the country office’s priorities.

The incumbent will work as part of the FAO Oman team and will coordinate, as required, with relevant colleagues at the Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (FAO-RNE), FAO Headquarters, and other FAO offices and communication focal points.

Reporting Lines

The Communications Assistant will work under the overall supervision of the Head of FAO Oman Office and will receive day-to-day guidance from the designated supervisor/communication focal point. The incumbent will collaborate with OCC, RCO, technical officers, programme colleagues, and other relevant focal points in support of communication activities.

Technical Focus

Communication support, digital and social media content, visibility, stakeholder outreach, and communication of FAO programmes and results

Tasks and responsibilities

In close collaboration with Office of Communications (OCC) branches and appropriate Communication focal points, the incumbent will:

•    Support the implementation of FAO Oman’s communication activities and contribute to communication workplans.
•    Collect and compile relevant information, photographs, videos, stories, success stories, and other content from FAO projects, programmes, and activities.
•    Assist in drafting, editing, and adapting communication products, including news items, stories, briefs, presentations, newsletters, infographics, videos, webpage content, and other digital materials.
•    Support FAO Oman’s official social media platforms by preparing and scheduling content, including posts, visuals, infographics, short videos, and monthly content calendars, in line with FAO communication guidelines.
•    Monitor social media engagement and compile relevant statistics and reports.
•    Assist in preparing and adapting communication content in both Arabic and English, as appropriate, to support effective outreach and engagement, particularly with government counterparts and local stakeholders.
•    Support communication and visibility activities related to FAO Oman’s engagement with existing and potential partners, including the preparation of briefs, presentations, factsheets, and content highlighting programme results and success stories.
•    Support communication activities for awareness-raising campaigns, workshops, events, and other activities related to FAO’s programmes and priorities.
•    Upload all relevant FAO Oman communication and publication materials to the Corporate Publication Workflow System (PWS) for quality assurance and clearance processes.
•    Attend regular monthly meetings and any additional regional coordination meetings, as requested by the Regional Communication Office in Cairo.
•    Participate in events, field visits, campaigns, and other activities to support communication coverage and content collection.
•    Liaise with relevant communication and technical focal points, including OCC, RCO, and FAO-RNE colleagues, as appropriate, to obtain inputs and support the review and clearance of communication products.
•    Ensure that communication products are accurate and consistent with FAO corporate communication standards, branding, terminology, and applicable guidelines.
•    Perform any other related duties as required.

FAO Standards and guidelines:

Liaison with OCC will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, aligned messaging, and appropriate review and clearance processes.

All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including:
FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: https://www.fao.org/strategic-framework/en  
FAO social media policy and guidelines: https://www.fao.org/2/socialmedia   
Social Media Branding Guidelines: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb5044en 
FAOSTYLE https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb8081en  
FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm 
FAO Names Of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en 
Story guidelines, Story template, UN map standards, FAO logo policy and related branding guidelines (available to staff).

Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements 
 

•    University degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Media, Marketing, or a related field.
•    Two years of relevant experience in communications, journalism, public relations, media, digital communications, or a related field.
•    Working knowledge of English and Arabic.
•    National of Oman or resident of the country with valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Experience in preparing and editing communication materials for different audiences and communication channels.
•    Experience in social media content preparation and digital communications.
•    Experience in preparing visual and multimedia content, including basic photography, video, infographics, or other digital materials.
•    Good writing and editing skills in English and Arabic.
•    Familiarity with communication and social media platforms and tools.
•    Experience working with government institutions, development partners, international organizations, or other relevant stakeholders is an asset.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing).
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
• Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications.
• For other issues, visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. 

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
•  We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

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